The first phase of long-term roadworks on the Felling Bypass is set to begin next week - although a roundabout revamp has been delayed.

Commuters are facing six months of misery as Heworth Roundabout is given a multi-million pound makeover.

Although no specific date was given, engineers said work would begin in autumn. However this is now likely to be in the New Year.

But before the major part of the work begins, initial preparations will get under way on Tuesday, October 10. It is not known how long these will last.

Work will be carried out to reduce the dual carriageway to a single lane in each direction to allow crash barriers on the verge to be replaced and new lighting to be installed.

Crash barriers will also be installed in the central reservation to protect against cross-over accidents.

Heworth Roundabout in Gateshead (Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

These works, which Gateshead Council says are “ancillary”, are being carried out ahead of major structural repairs to the roundabout.

Anneliese Hutchinson, service director for development, transport and public protection, said: “There has been a lot of discussion around whether we begin these ancillary works before the main works on the roundabout begin.

“It’s been a complicated decision because starting these works early will create some peak-time congestion.

“We had originally intended to carry out these works while the main roundabout works were taking place to get all of the pain over with in one go.

“However, we’ve taken another look and we now think that by completing these works first we might be able to maintain two lanes in each direction for longer while the roundabout works are being carried out.”

Heworth roundabout road closure

The council said it is still awaiting approval from Network Rail for the main work at Heworth Roundabout to begin and says it is looking “increasingly likely” that - along with the closure of Shields Road - it will not begin until the New Year.

Ms Hutchinson added: “We’ll be keeping drivers and residents advised in the weeks ahead and as soon as we have a confirmed start date we’ll be publicising this widely.”

Heworth Roundabout, which is built on a series of bridges over the Network Rail and Metro lines beneath, will be the focus of major repair work after structural engineers detected water seeping into the bridge structures.

The council says that, if left unchecked, this could cause serious and irreparable structural damage to the bridges.